Can you use superglue on cuts?
A walker was surprised when a fellow rambler used glue to close a wound. Dr Mark Porter explains why household superglue isn't always the safest option.
Adrien Gaudin
A walker was surprised when a fellow rambler used glue to close a wound. Dr Mark Porter explains why household superglue isn't always the safest option.
Is it OK to use superglue to close small wounds? I cut my thigh climbing over some barbed wire rambling in Yorkshire last month and was surprised when one of the group produced some glue from her first aid kit. She pinched the wound shut and applied the glue.
It worked a treat, but I have since read that it has to be a special type.
The official line is that it’s best not to use household superglue. Firstly it is formulated differently to the medical-grade types designed for use by healthcare professionals. The differences may be small, but the types we use are formulated to reduce irritation and increase flexibility to help wound healing. The downside is these products are expensive: around £15-20 for a tiny, one-use applicator.
Second, if wrongly applied to a bleeding or contaminated wound, superglue can lead to complications including haematoma (blood collecting under the skin) and infection. It works best on clean cuts with edges that meet easily – not always the case when you catch your leg on some rusty barbed wire.
Finally, if you have a wound that might require closure – whether with adhesive strips (Steri-Strips), glue, stitches or staples – then it should be assessed and treated by a clinician. If you are in the middle of nowhere when it happens: clean any debris out of the wound with bottled water; apply a sterile non-stick dressing if you have one; and add some pressure if required, such as with a carefully applied crepe bandage. Don’t apply crepe or other compression bandaging directly to the wound.
Put it this way: if I felt the need to close a wound on a ramble, I would use a reversible method like adhesive strips and then head to the nearest Minor Injuries Unit or Emergency Department. And the staff there will also be able to check you are up to date with your tetanus jabs.
Have you got a medical question for Dr Mark Porter? He can’t reply individually, but will respond to questions on this page*
Email drmark@saga.co.uk.
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